The review of 94 trials involving nearly 3,000 people found that there is evidence that single doses of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation of the motor cortex and transcranial direct current stimulation may have short-term effects on chronic pain and quality of life. But the evidence is not of a high quality.

But there is no evidence that chronic pain is reduced by low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation applied to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or cranial electrotherapy stimulation.

“There remains a need for substantially larger, rigorously designed studies, particularly of longer courses of stimulation,” the authors conclude. “Future evidence may substantially impact upon the presented results.”

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